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Advocacy
Community Physiotherapy Clinics

Community Physiotherapy Clinics

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4 Ways to Help Us Advocate

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association sounded the alarm on April 15, 2026, regarding the lack of funding for the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program.

The Government of Ontario recently notified CPC clinics that there is no increase in patient funding or program capacity for the next two years. Despite a proven track record of saving healthcare dollars, the program has been pushed to a breaking point due to chronic underfunding over the last 13 years.

Sign and share our petition, write to your MPP and email OPA’s letter to Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones. You can make a difference.

Community Physiotherapy Clinic Campaign

About

About the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program

The Community Physiotherapy Clinic Program is a well-established publicly funded program that provides access to essential physiotherapy services for eligible Ontario residents.

Launched in 2013, the CPC Program has provided almost 10 million physiotherapy treatments through partnerships with over 200 community clinics and outpatient hospital facilities across Ontario.

Program elibility

Who Can Access the CPC Program

The Community Physiotherapy Clinic program is for people experiencing a decline in their function or movement due to recent illnesses, injuries, accidents, or surgeries, or who are experiencing flare ups or worsening symptoms from a previous fall, accident, surgery, or chronic condition.
It is accessible by individuals who have a valid Ontario health card, are either 65 years or older, 19 years or younger, or any age if they were discharged from outpatient clinics or from hospitals following an overnight stay within the previous 12 months. Patients receiving funding under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works (OW) Program are also eligible.
Patients can self-refer to the Program by contacting a CPC clinic directly or with a referral from a primary care provider. Direct access to the program reduces the number of visits to primary care providers.

Program Elibility

epsidoes of care (eocs) & transfer payment agreements (tPAs)

CPC Structure and Regional Distribution

Program participants are allocated a certain number of Episodes of Care (EOCs) each year. Each EOC is provided for a specific condition. Patients may receive multiple EOCs to treat multiple conditions either concurrently or successively.

Program participants hold a Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) with the Ministry of Health (MoH). The TPAs are renewed every two years, with the renewal date being April 1.

Approximately 90 percent of EOCs are allocated to community clinics and 10 percent to hospital-based clinics.

community physiotherapy clinics save health care dollars

CPC Structure and Regional Distribution

Every Dollar Invested in CPC Saves Four Dollars of Preventable Downstream Expenses.

Since its launch, the CPC Program has saved Ontario taxpayers nearly $2 billion. It has also prevented unnecessary surgeries and ED admissions, and helped seniors and vulnerable clients live independently and with dignity.

reducing emergency department burden & keeping seniors at home

CPC Program Impact

For many Ontario residents, the CPC program is the only access to critical publicly funded physiotherapy services; reducing pain, improving mobility and restoring function. This is particularly true in rural and remote communities. Across the province, over 80% of CPC services are for seniors over the age of 65, making the program a proven and vital foundation to keeping seniors safe and independent at home. The Program also reduces the burden on primary care, visits to emergency departments, and inpatient admissions.

“We have so many vulnerable patients, the longer they delay/wait for access, the higher the likelihood of increased disability…which ultimately leads to increased care/demand on the public system” – CPC Program Provider

“We service an aging population in a rural area with most seniors not having extended health benefits. Our senior population is growing as are their needs, with reducing services in hospitals and lack of timely access to medical professionals leads to further disability to this age group. – CPC Program Provider

“Access to physio for early intervention is helpful as we act in some cases as a liaison to their primary health care provider (wait times can be weeks) to request further testing, intervention etc” – CPC Program Provider

“Many of our elderly patients will say that they have to choose between waiting 2 months for therapy or eating.” – CPC Program Provider

“We are in a rural, underserviced area that there only alternative is to go ER with concerns…shoulder strains, low back pain etc…people in our area know they can get in quickly to see a physiotherapist, so they can access us instead of going to ER.” – CPC Program Provider

“Withdrawal from the program would mean increased primary care provider visits, increased specialist referrals and wait times and an increase in potentially avoidable surgeries and prescriptions.”

“…the only place for clients to access pessary fitting services in North West and North East Ontario Health Regions is with us. Otherwise, clients have to drive eight hours in one direction or four in the other. We use the program to provide postnatal pelvic therapy, children and elderly patients that would otherwise have no access to physiotherapy services.”

“Many of the women accessing pelvic therapy come from situations of domestic violence or abuse. They are only able to access therapy through CPC funding. Others are coming post-partum and therapy helps them avoid incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pain in the future.”

ministry of health (Moh)

Alignment with MoH Priorities

“Every elderly, frail patient who walks into physiotherapy and works on their balance and strength is a potential ED visit avoided because of the decreased risk of falling and the increase in function. Unattached patients who are struggling with pain are able to manage through therapy instead of an ED visit for pain medication.”

The Ontario government is continuing their commitment to care that is patient-centered, connected, and convenient. This has been supported by investments in primary care, home and community care, hospitals and long-term care. The Community Physiotherapy Clinic program impacts multiple sectors, and supports key government priorities and investments including: Shifting care to the community, Supporting seniors at home, Linking investments in primary care, home care, LTC and seniors accessibility, Offloading emergency departments and wait times and Reducing ALC beds and waits.

CPC Program Benefits

In a November 2025 survey of our CPC providers, respondents cited three distinct benefits for Ontario’s health-system.

1. Eligibility requirements mean that hospitals can discharge and reduce ALC bed occupancy knowing that patients are eligible for the program and community supports are available for eligible patients post-admission.

2. As a vital part of primary care, the program reduces downstream system use and cost.

3. Its ease of access prevents the need to consult a primary care physician or nurse practitioner for an assessment and/or referral.

funding & capacity risks

Current Risks to the Community Physiotherapy Clinic Program

A. Funding

Ongoing participation in the CPC program is becoming increasingly precarious for clinics as the funding model has not kept pace with increasing operating costs. Despite the significant impact of CPC program, the funding for one Episode of Care (EOC) has increased by only 7% in thirteen years since the launch of the program; from $312 in 2013 to $334.38 in 2026. This level of remuneration is not sustainable for clinics to continue delivering care to patients. In turn, without access to necessary publicly funded physiotherapy, patients are put at risk for chronic pain, limited function, and delayed return to work.

B. Capacity

The number of sessions included in each EOC is variable and determined by the treatment plan set. In 2024-25, approximately 142,000 EOCs were delivered. However, clinics still did not have enough EOCs allocated to meet the needs of their communities, with many clinics having significant waitlists. Ontario residents are turned away for essential health services and left with no alternatives when clinics fulfill their EOC allocations.

In many communities, the CPC program is the only resource available to patients who lack private insurance or specialist access. To meet the population and demographic growth in Ontario, the total number of EOCs needs to be increased from the current 142,000 to 195,000, and new EOCs need to be allocated annually to keep pace with regional growth.

OPA Advocates for CPC Program Participants & Patients

Ontario Physiotherapy Association has been a collaborator with the Ministry of Health since the inception of the program, as it is a key program to provide people in Ontario with essential physiotherapy programming. Since 2013, OPA has met regularly with the Ministry of Health, and has been instrumental in making several improvements to the program, including patients being able to self-refer.

opa advocacy

Survey Results Shows Need to Increase Funding

Due to increasing concerns regarding sustainability raised by participants in the CPC program, OPA completed a survey in November 2025 to further understand the growing challenges.

The results of this survey have informed OPA’s recent advocacy for the 2026-28 Transfer Payment Agreement, including increased funding to ensure sustainability of the program, and expanded volumes to meet the needs of people living in Ontario.

Furthermore, OPA is proposing tools to improve program transparency and activity, and OPA is also meeting with major system stakeholders to build awareness of the CPC Program’s value and alignment with Ontario’s broader health-system objectives.

news about cpcs